Hair curler



Sept. 5, 1939.

H. P. BROOKS HAIR CURLER Filed Aug. 10, 1958 III rfllallflllilll llllllllllllllllllllll xMllIlx (gwn INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Sept. 5, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT oEFlcE 11 Claims.

This invention relates to a hair curler andy has as one of its objects to provide a device of this character which includes a mandrel adapted to have rotary motion imparted thereto by a shaft mounted for reciprocating movement, the mandrel being so formed that when it is rotated a lock of hair will be wound about it and formed into a curl.

Another object of the invention is to provide the mandrel and the shaft with improved means for imparting the rotary motion to themandrel, said means being so constructed that the mandrel may be caused to turn in a predetermined direction when the shaft is reciprocated.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved finger grip loosely mounted about the mandrel and adapted to be firmly gripped between fingers or a thumb and finger of a hand while the shaft has reciprocating movement imparted to it by the thumb or a finger of the hand grasping the finger grip.

Another object of the invention is to so form the mandrel that after a lock of hair has been wound about it, the mandrel may be slid longitudinally out of the curl.

Another object of the invention is to provide the device with a shaft serving not only as a shaft for imparting rotary motion to the mandrel but also as a holder for a. comb used while curling hair.

'I'he invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein: l

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the improved hair curler.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on an; enlarged scale taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a. sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 2. f

Fig. 5 is a view partly in longitudinal section and partly in elevation, illustrating a modified construction.

Fig. '6 is' a sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

^ Fig. 7 is a-perspective view of a pawl forming part of the curler.

This improved hair curler has a shaft I formed with spiral grooves 2 which extend about the shaft in opposite directions, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. At its outer end the shaft I is formed with a ring 3 and a longitudinally extending clamp l which is open at its outer or rear end in order that a comb 5 may be slid longitudinally into the clamp where it will be gripped and firmly (Cl. E32-m34) but removably mounted in position for use when combing hair which is to be curled. At its outer end, the comb is formed with two large teeth G spaced an appreciable distance from each other in order that a lock of hair may be easily sepg arated and lifted from the rest of the hair. If the teeth of the comb become broken or it is necessary to thoroughly clean the comb, it can be easily slid longitudinally out of the clamp and cleaned and replaced or a new comb substituted lll in place of the one previously used.

The mandrel 'I about which the lock of hair is to be wound in order to form a curl, is hollow, as shown in Fig. 2, and'tapered longitudinally, as shown in Fig. i, in order that it may be easily 15 slid longitudinally out of a formed curl. A slot 8 extends longitudinally of the mandrel from its front end to receive the end portion of a lock of hair to be curled, and it should also be noted that this formation permits the slotted forward 20 end portion of the mandrel to yield under pressure and thus permit the mandrel to be slid out of a curl without interference by frictional grip of the hair wound about it. The hollow portion of the mandrel terminates short of the slotted end 25 portion, as shown in Fig. 5, in order that the slotted end portion will be strengthened and not be liable to easily bend. If so desired, the entire mandrel may be hollow, including the arms or forks 9 formed by the slot 8. A sleeve I0 which 3c is slotted longitudinally as shown at I l, is rigidly mounted at the rear end of the mandrel and this sleeve carries a finger grip or collar I2 which fits loosely about the sleeve and, in order to permit free rotary motion between the sleeve and 35 the collar, there has been provided a ball bearing I3. By gripping the collar between a thumb and second finger or between the first and second fingers and then engaging the first finger or thumb through the ring 3, reciprocating motion 0 may be imparted to the shaft, and during such movement the shaft will be shifted longitudinally intov and out of the hollow* mandrel.

During reciprocation of the shaft, rotary motion is to be imparted to the mandrel and in order 45 to do so there has been provided pawl and ratchet mechanism illustrated in Figs. 2 and 4. Referring to Fig. 2, it will be seen that about the shaft and within the sleeve I 0 are disposed ratchet gears I4 and I5 having elongated hubs carrying 50 lugs which engage in the grooves 2 of the shaft so that when the shaft I is shifted longitudinally, the ratchet gears will be turned about the shaft. 'I'he teeth of the ratchet I4 face in one direction circumferentially of the shaft which may be toward the left asshown in Fig. 4, and the teeth of the ratchet i5 face in an opposite direction. A pawl i1 extends longitudinally of the sleeve i0 within the same and this pawl has teeth i8 and i9 facing in opposite'directions transversely of the pawl and circumferentially o'f the shaft, and upon referring to Fig. 2, it will be seen that by shifting the pawl longitudinally of the sleeve,

the tooth Il may be disposed in engagement j 10' with the ratchet 4Il or the tooth i9 disposed in engagement with the ratchet i 5: When the shaft is shifted toward the mandrel and the ratchets rotated, rotary motion will be transmitted to the mandrel by engagement of the pawl with one of the ratchets and, as the shaft is shifted outwardly away from the mandrel, the pawl will slide over teeth of the ratchet and the mandrel will remain stationary while the ratchet turns.

Rotary motion may therefore be successively imparted to the mandrel during reciprocation of the shaft and since the pawl may be engaged with a selected ratchet, the direction in which the mandrel turns maybe controlled. The stem 2li of the pawl extends outwardly through the slot il of the sleeve iii and is formed with a head or button 2l by means of which the pawl may be shifted longitudinally and disposed in engagement with the ratchets. The leaf spring 22 yieldably holds the pawl in engagement with the` other out of the position shown invg Fig. 2, and the.

caps or plugs 24 and 25 which are screwed into the ends of the sleeve prevent shifting of the ratchets in an opposite direction. Therefore,

positions about the shaft.

When the hair curler is in use, it is held by the mandrel with the shaft l housed therein in its retracted position during use of the comb to comb the hair and lift locks of hair with the large teeth 6. A finger will be engaged through the ring during use of the comb to hold the shaft in its retracted position. After a lock of hair has been lifted from the main body of hair, the outer free end of the lock is ,engaged through the slot and wrapped about the forks 8, the shaft being in its extended position during this operation. The collar i2 is then grasped and force applied with a finger or thumb engaged through the ring shifted into the mandrel, the mandrel will be turned about the shaft and the lock of hair wrapped about the mandrel to form a curl. Hair pins are then applied to hold the curl in shape and the mandrel is withdrawn. Since the mandrel tapers toward its front end, it can .be easily withdrawn. In case the lock of hair is not all wrapped about the mandrel during one inward movement of the shaft, it is merely necessary to shiftv the shaft outwardly and then again inwardly and since the pawl slides over the teeth of the ratchet with which it is engaged during outward movement of the shaft, the lock of hair will not be unwrapped or unwound during outward movement of the shaft. It will thus be seen that successive turning motions may be imparted to the mandrel during successive inward movements ofthe shaft and the lock of hair will beentirelywound about the mandrel.

In Figs. 5' and 6, is illustrated a modifledconthe ratchets will be maintained in their proper to shift the shaft inwardly and, as the shaft is' rarrasa.

`struction, wherein a shaft 28 is employed which,

instead of being formed with the opposed spirally extending grooves, consists of a metal strip which is rectangular in cross section, as shown in Fig. 6, and twisted, as shown in Fig. 5, to provide a spiral thread. The ratchets 21 and 28 which take the place of the ratchet gears i4 and i5, instead of being sleeves providedv with'the ratchet teeth andthe lugs i6, are discs and each ratchet disc has ratchet teeth about its peripheral edge and its central portion is formed with a. rectangular slot 29of such dimensions that it snugly receives the twisted shank. This is clearly shown in Fig. 6 and it will be readily understood that, as the shaft is shifted longitudinally, rotary motion will be imparted to the ratchet discs and rotary motion imparted to the mandrel during inward movement of the shaft by grippingv engagement of the teeth of a selected ratchet disc with thepawl il. The operation of this form of curler is the same as previously described. Y

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is: n y

1. A hair curler comprising a mandrel, a shaft shiftable longitudinally axially of said mandrel, ineans for imparting rotary 4motion to said mandrel when said shaft isv shifted longitudinally in one direction, and a finger grip loose about said y mandrel.

. to an extended position, and means in said pocket for imparting rotary motion to said mandrel when said shaft is shifted longitudinally.

3. A hair curlercomprisinga;mandrel having a longitudinally extending pocket leading from its inner end, a finger grip-rotatable about the inner end portion of rsaidmandrel, a yshaft exa longitudinallyl extending vpocket leading from its inner end, a finger rgrip rotatable about the inner end portion of said mandreLa shaft ex-y tending longitudinally of said mandrel and shiftable from a retractediposition within the pocket to an extended-position,ratchet wheels in said pocket about said shaft said shafty having spiral grooves extending in opposite Ydirections about the same and said ratchet wheels having lugs engagedin said grooves for imparting rotary motion to the ratchetv wheels when the shaft is shifted longitudinally, and a pawl carried by said mandrel andvshiftable into position for engagement with a selected ratchet wheel.

5. A'hair curler comprising a mandrel having a longitudinally extending pocket leading from its inner end, a finger grip rotatable about the inner end portion of said mandrel, a shaft extending longitudinally of said mandrel and shiftable from a retracted position within the pocket to an extended position, cooperatingfmeans carried by the. shaft and the mandrel within the pocket for imparting rotary movement to said mandrel when the shaft is shifted longitudinally in one direction, and a finger engaging ring at the outer end of said shaft.

6. A hair curler comprising a mandrel having a longitudinally extending pocket leading from its inner end, a finger grip rotatable about the inner end portion of said mandrel, a shaft extending longitudinally of said mandrel and shiftable from a retracted position within the pocket to an extended position, cooperating means carried by the shaft and the mandrel within the pocket for imparting rotary movement to said mandrel lwhen the shaft is shifted longitudinally in one direction, and a comb holder at'the outer end of said shaft.

7. A hair curler comprising a mandrel having a longitudinally extending pocket leading from its inner end, a :linger grip rotatable about the inner end portion of said mandrel, a shaft extending iongitudinally of said mandrel and shift- Vable from a retracted position within the pocket ,its inner end, a finger grip rotatable about the inner end portion `of said mandrel, a shaft extending longitudinally of said mandrel and shiftable from a retracted position within the pocket to an extended position, ratchet wheels fitting about said shaft within said pocket and each having its teeth facing circumferentially of the shaft in a direction opposite to the teeth of the other ratchet wheel, said shaft having grooves extending spirally about the same in opposite directions and said ratchet wheels having lugs engaged in said grooves for imparting rotary motion to the ratchet wheels when the shaft is shifted longitudinally, and a pawl carried by said mandrel and shiftable longitudinally thereof into position to engage teeth of a selected ratchet wheel.

9. `A hair curler comprising a mandrel having a longitudinally extending pocket leading from its inner end, a finger grip rotatable about the inner end portion of said mandrel, a shaft ex--A tending longitudinally of said mandrel and shiftable from a retracted position within the pocket to an extended position, ratchet wheels fitting about said shaft within said pocket and each 'having its teeth factng circumferentially of the shaft in a direction opposite to the teeth of the other ratchet wheel, said shaft having grooves extending spirally about the same in opposite directions and said ratchet wheels having lugs engaged in said grooves for imparting rotary motion to the ratchet wheels when the shaft is shifted longitudinally, a pawl in said pocket having a stem extending outwardly through a slot formed longitudinally in walls of the mandrel to mount the pawl for adjustment into position to engage teeth of a selected ratchet wheel, and a spring about said stem urging the pawl toward the ratchet wheels.

10. A hair curler comprising a mandrel having a longitudinally extending pocket leading from its inner end, a nger grip rotatable about the inner end portion'of said mandrel, a shaft extending longitudinally of said mandrel and shiftable from a retracted position within the pocket to an extending position, ratchet wheels fitting about said shaft within said pocket and` each having its teeth facing circumferentially of the shaft in a direction opposite to the teeth of the other ratchet wheel, said shaft consisting of a metal strip twisted to provide a spiral formation and said ratchet wheels each having a slot snugly receiving the shaft to cause rotation of the ratchet `wheels when the shaft is shifted longitudinally, and a pawl carried by said mandrel and shiftable longitudinally thereof into position to engage the teeth of a selected ratchet wheel and cause rotation of the mandrel in a predetermined direction when the shaft is shifted longitudinally in one direction.

11. A hair curler comprising a mandrel having a longitudinally extending pocket leading from its inner end, a finger grip rotatable about the inner end portion of said mandrel, 'a shaft ex-l tending longitudinally of said mandrel and shiftable from a retracted position within the pocket to an extended position, ratchet wheels fitting about "said shaft within said pocket and each having its teeth facing circumferentially of the shaft in a directionopposite to the teeth of the other ratchet wheel, said shaft having grooves extending spirally about the same in opposite directions and said ratchet wheels having lugs engaged in said grooves for imparting rotary motion to the ratchet wheels whenlthe shaft is shifted longitudinally, discs in said mandrel, and an annular rib in the mandrel, said ratchet wheels being located between the rib and said discs and thereby held against longitudinal movement, and a pawl in said mandrel shiftable into position'to engage a selected ratchet wheel.

H ARLAND P. BROOKS.. 

